Miomir Kecmanovic shares what surprised him about Novak Djokovic when they trained together recently

Follow us on Google Discover

Novak Djokovic has made a fine start to his 2026 campaign.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion qualified for his first major final since 2024 at the Australian Open.

However, he did fail in his bid to win Grand Slam number 25, as Djokovic lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

There was still plenty to celebrate, though, as Djokovic proved he can still compete with the very best at 38.

His tennis immortality continues to surprise everyone, including his Serbian teammate, Miomir Kecmanovic.

Miomir Kecmanovic was surprised by what Novak Djokovic was working on in training

Appearing as a guest on the ‘Nothing Major‘ podcast, Serbia’s Kecmanovic shared details about his relationship with Djokovic.

“I mean, we have a normal relationship,” he said.

“We’re not the best of friends like he is with Viktor [Troicki] and Janko [Tipsarevic], which is normal because they’ve grown up and played together.

“But whenever there was something, we’d talk, or we’re in a tournament, or if something is going on, we’ve always been very friendly with each other.”

Novak Djokovic and Miomir Kecmanovic’s head-to-head record

Djokovic and Kecmanovic have met four times on the ATP Tour and played one match together at the Davis Cup, which they lost to Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego in 2023.

Nothing Major host Jack Sock asked Kecmanovic what he thought about Djokovic reaching the Australian Open final earlier this year.

“It’s crazy, I don’t think anybody expected it, to be honest,” said Kecmanovic.

“But, we practiced during the off-season in Dubai, the stuff he was working on and how he looked then, it was really surprising that he could still do that, at that age.

“It was honestly very exciting to see him there.

“Hopefully, he still has it in him to get that one more he needs.”

Djokovic ‘needs’ one more Grand Slam to move ahead of Margaret Court in the all-time list.

All-time Grand Slam record

• T-1. Novak Djokovic – 24
• T-1. Margaret Court – 24
• 3. Serena Williams – 23
• T-4. Steffi Graf – 22
• T-4. Rafael Nadal – 22

He’s been unsuccessful in his search for 25, so far, but how close has he come?

Novak Djokovic’s bid for a 25th Grand Slam

The Serbian won his 24th major title at the 2023 US Open.

Since then, he’s played nine Grand Slam tournaments, but hasn’t been able to add to his tally.

Novak Djokovic at Grand Slams since the 2023 US Open

He’s played two major finals, coming up short against Alcaraz on both occasions.

Djokovic came closest to winning another major in the 2026 Australian Open final, taking a set off the world number one.

The question remains: Can he win another?

It’s impossible to know for sure, but if he can play as well as he did down under, he might have a chance.

Many believe his next real opportunity will come at Wimbledon, an event he’s dominated over the years.

The 2026 Wimbledon Championships begin on Monday, June 29.

There’s a lot of tennis to be played between now and then, though.

Djokovic is scheduled to return to ATP Tour action at Indian Wells, which starts on Wednesday, March 4.